Warwick gets first win for new hoops coach

HAMPTON — Willie Gause's first win as Warwick's head coach came in a familiar setting.

In the Howard White Showcase at Kecoughtan High, where Gause spent five years as a Warriors assistant, the Raiders hung on for a 63-61 win over Norfolk Christian. Lewis Freeman scored 25 points, including four in the final 48 seconds after the Ambassadors had twice tied the score.

"It probably hit me yesterday that my first game would be here," Gause said. "I was going back home with my new family."

Warwick led by nine points with 5:57 remaining but Norfolk Christian tied with 1:03 to go and again with 25 seconds left. But both times, Freeman broke the tie — first with a drive to the hole, then with a pair of free throws with 15.9 seconds to go.

"He's coming out this season to show he's legit," Gause said. "He's always the first guy in the gym and the last one out of it. We told him to put us on his back and carry us home."

The Ambassadors had one final chance but Donovon Lynch missed a 3-pointer.

The Phantoms jumped out to an early lead but were done in by poor shooting — from the field, from the 3-point arc and from the free-throw line.

Phoebus shot 32 percent from the floor and missed all 11 of its attempts from the 3-point arc. To make matters worse, Phoebus was 7-of-17 from the free-throw line.

The Phantoms led 29-24 at halftime but were outscored 20-7 in the third quarter. Phoebus hit only four of its 16 field-goal attempts.

The Bookers took control with a 5-point possession. Joseph Battle made a layup to tie the game and was fouled. He missed the free throw, but Booker T. got the offensive rebound. C'Keem McCoy then knocked down a 3-pointer from the left wing to put the Bookers up 37-33.

Booker T. cruised from there despite going 14-of-32 from the free-throw line.